The High Price of Connection: Zimbabwe's Internet Costs Stifle Digital Growth

In Zimbabwe, the increasing costs of internet access ripple through the fabric of society, snatching opportunities and deepening the digital divide. Joyce Kapvumfuti, a small business owner specializing in catering in the city of Mutare, witnesses the direct impact these costs have on her livelihood. With a 100% increase in data prices announced by Econet Wireless Zimbabwe in October 2023, her online-based business suffers. The ability to advertise her culinary services virtually disrupted, her customer engagement has more than halved.

As inflating internet costs tower over the fiscal landscape of Zimbabwe, many like Kapvumfuti find themselves dedicating a significant portion of their income to stay connected. With rent and food competing for her financial attention, the balancing act turns precarious. Reports indicate that the real annual inflation in the country hovers around an astounding 1,000%, yet salaries do not reflect this climber.

Digital rights advocates and anti-poverty campaigners demand a governmental and regulatory intervention, urging Potraz, the telecom regulator, to take decisive action. Despite Potraz suggesting that the cost per gigabyte of data remains below the Southern African average at $3.21 (R60), comparisons to neighboring countries show Zimbabwe's prices soaring above those of South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, and Eswatini. A report by Cable.co.uk emphasizes the discrepancy, with Zimbabwe exceeding regional averages significantly.

The internet, once a tool for growth and innovation, is now a luxury many cannot afford. Internet penetration within Zimbabwe, already lower than regional counterparts like South Africa, hampers progress and access to essential services. This digital shortfall hits every corner of the Zimbabwean tapestry—from local enterprise owners and content creators to students.

Kuda Chisvo, who manages an online vegetable retail business, feels the sting as consumer orders dwindle. Even education stands compromised, with high school student Tafadzwa Chaitezvi now depending on borrowed Wi-Fi to download study material. The broader consequences of these cost hikes are vivid, with a tangible impact on the country's economic future and knowledge acquisition.

The #DataMustFallZW campaign, revitalized after a 2022 outcry over NetOne's exorbitant data pricing, gains momentum as stakeholders grapple with the widening gulf between costs and affordability. Misa Zimbabwe’s active role underscores the duty of internet service providers and authorities to align prices with the financial reach of citizens. However, silence from the government's side and justifications about foreign currency costs from Potraz signal an uphill struggle for resolution.

In the midst of mounting woes, Zimbabweans like Kapvumfuti and Chaitezvi hustle through a reality where their connection to the digital world teeters on the edge of affordability. The country's pulse synchronizes with each megabyte of data, the heartbeat of commerce and knowledge now measured in the currency of connectivity.